MBT Whaler "Charles W. Morgan" (1841) (full-rigged ship) - Construction Drawing Scale 1 : 64 (10.00.012)

The Charles W. Morgan is the oldest surviving whaling ship in the world and one of the most famous symbols of American whaling history. The ship is an important cultural and historical artefact, reflecting the heyday of the 19th-century whaling industry, as well as the contributions of the United States to maritime history.

History of the Charles W. Morgan:

Year of Construction and Design:

The ship was built in 1841 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, by the shipyard of Jethro & Zachariah Hillman.

It was a whaling ship, specifically designed for whale hunting, and one of the schooners (a type of ship with two to three masts) used during the peak period of American whaling.

The Charles W. Morgan had a length of approximately 42 metres and was equipped with a sharp hull and large sails, which made it possible to navigate quickly and pursue whales.

Whaling and Significance:

The Charles W. Morgan was one of the highly successful whaling ships of the 19th century. Whalers from New Bedford, including the Morgan, primarily sailed to the Arctic waters and the Pacific Ocean to catch whales for their oil and whalebone, which were immensely valuable for the Industrial Revolution. Whale oil was used for lamps, lubricants, and later for soap production.

The Charles W. Morgan was named after the famous whaling entrepreneur Charles W. Morgan, a businessman from New Bedford who had made his fortune in the whaling industry.

During its active years, the Morgan undertook several expeditions and carried out numerous successful hunts in the waters around the Azores, African coasts, and New Zealand, where they caught thousands of whales.

Decline of Whaling:

Towards the end of the 19th century, whaling began to suffer from the rise of other oil sources and the decline in whale numbers. The mechanisation of the industry and dwindling whale populations made traditional whaling less profitable.

However, in 1921, the Charles W. Morgan was retired from active whaling, after the whaling industry in the US had begun to decline. The ship had seen its most productive years, but it was a time of change for the entire whaling industry.

Restoration and Heritage:

In 1925, the Charles W. Morgan was exhibited as a historic ship and was given a place in the Maritime Museum in New Bedford.

In 1941, the ship was again restored and fully repaired by the Smithsonian Institution, and it took its place as a living monument to America's whaling history.

Modern History and Tourism:

The Charles W. Morgan was added to the National Register of Historic Places of the United States in 1969.

In 2014, the ship was again restored and undertook its first voyage in decades, sailing as part of an educational journey around New England. The voyage, which covered more than 38,000 kilometres, was organised by the Mystic Seaport Museum, where the Charles W. Morgan is currently on display.

Present: Today, the Charles W. Morgan is an important cultural and historical monument preserved at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut. The ship is used to teach the history of whaling and the maritime history of the United States. It is one of the few remaining whaling ships and offers visitors the chance to learn more about life aboard a whaling ship and the impact of whaling on world history.

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